Canterbury Cathedral01227 762862workGroup VisitsMother Church of the Anglican Communion, seat of the Archbishop. Stunning stained glass. Eleventh century Crypt, Twelfth century Quire, Fourteenth century Nave. The Cathedral's history goes back to 597 AD when St Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory the Great as a missionary, established his seat (or 'Cathedra') in Canterbury. In 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral and ever since, the Cathedral has attracted thousands of pilgrims, as famously told in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

Facilities available include:

Guided Tours - Our guides are experts at making the Cathedral and its history come to life and we strongly recommend that you book a tour for your group. Guided tours in several languages as well as special tours of an extended or specialised character can be arranged, starting any time between 09.00 and 15.30 hrs (Monday to Friday) and 09.00 and 13.30 hrs (Saturday). There are no guided tours on Sunday. Cost for guided tour (additional to entry charge): Adult and Concessions £5.00

Private Evening Tours - depending on the availability of the Cathedral, private (historical) evening tours by Cathedral guides may also be arranged. Costs: £30.00 per person (minimum charge £750.00).

Behind The Scenes Tours - Behind the scenes a great deal goes on - some 220 people work on preparing Services, creating beautiful music, restoring the stained glass or conserving unique and rare books and documents, much as the monks did many centuries ago. Groups visiting the Cathedral can now experience these fascinating aspects of Cathedral life by visiting our conservation workshops to see stonemasons / stained glass conservators in action and/or Archives & Library to view beautiful manuscripts and rare books. These visits are very popular - numbers are limited and they must be booked well in advance.

The Schools Department at Canterbury Cathedral, working within the National Curriculum provides high calibre resources and support to visiting school groups and teachers from infant to secondary, enabling them to interpret the building and enhance the quality of their visit. Facilities range from guided tours, themed trails and project work to a wide selection of specialised educational publications.

Group accommodation and hospitality available in the Cathedral's Lodge and Study Centre.

Details

Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, seat of the Archbishop. Stunning stained glass. Eleventh century Crypt, Twelfth century Quire, Fourteenth century Nave. The Cathedral's history goes back to 597 AD when St Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory the Great as a missionary, established his seat (or 'Cathedra') in Canterbury. In 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral and ever since, the Cathedral has attracted thousands of pilgrims, as famously told in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

Facilities available include:

Guided Tours - Our guides are experts at making the Cathedral and its history come to life and we strongly recommend that you book a tour for your group. Guided tours in several languages as well as special tours of an extended or specialised character can be arranged, starting any time between 09.00 and 15.30 hrs (Monday to Friday) and 09.00 and 13.30 hrs (Saturday). There are no guided tours on Sunday. Cost for guided tour (additional to entry charge): Adult and Concessions £5.00

Private Evening Tours - depending on the availability of the Cathedral, private (historical) evening tours by Cathedral guides may also be arranged. Costs: £30.00 per person (minimum charge £750.00).

Behind The Scenes Tours - Behind the scenes a great deal goes on - some 220 people work on preparing Services, creating beautiful music, restoring the stained glass or conserving unique and rare books and documents, much as the monks did many centuries ago. Groups visiting the Cathedral can now experience these fascinating aspects of Cathedral life by visiting our conservation workshops to see stonemasons / stained glass conservators in action and/or Archives & Library to view beautiful manuscripts and rare books. These visits are very popular - numbers are limited and they must be booked well in advance.

The Schools Department at Canterbury Cathedral, working within the National Curriculum provides high calibre resources and support to visiting school groups and teachers from infant to secondary, enabling them to interpret the building and enhance the quality of their visit. Facilities range from guided tours, themed trails and project work to a wide selection of specialised educational publications.

Group accommodation and hospitality available in the Cathedral's Lodge and Study Centre.

For information on Cathedral closures please visit the website or view the pdf.

Canterbury Cathedral is very much part of the local community. It is used regularly for local, regional and/or national services and events. Some or all of it may, therefore, at times be closed for general visiting. Please contact the Cathedral Visits Office before visiting to check up-to-date opening times and possible closures.

Please note the Quire closes in preparation for Evensong on Monday-Friday at 16.30 hrs and on Saturday and Sunday at 14.30 hrs.

For up to date information on Canterbury Cathedral closures please visit the website or view the pdf.

Location

Directions

Canterbury Cathedral is located in the centre of Canterbury, within walking distance of both Canterbury East and West stations. Canterbury is only 30 minutes drive from Dover (continental ferries) and Folkestone (Eurotunnel), making it an ideal stop-over en route to London. Fast speed trains bring passengers from Canterbury to London within 56 minutes.

Accessible by Public Transport: 1 mile from Canterbury East/West station